Skiing in the Tokyo area is listed as one of the top things to do in Tokyo in winter. So, we went to the Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort during the first week of February.
The ski resorts
we recommended were so close to Tokyo that we could go and come back on the
same day. The one we went to was the Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort, a resort with
about 17 slopes, ideal for beginners. Gala Yuzawa is more accessible because it
has its own bullet train (Shinkansen) station, the only one in the world. Also,
with a relatively high altitude of 1181 m and large amounts of snow, Gala
Yuzawa enjoys a long season and offers some of the best snow conditions in the
region.
Things to do
before you travel:
1.
1. To
be on the safe side, we started by checking the live cameras to see if there
was enough snow. We recommend you do the same by using the live cam link below:
https://gala.co.jp/winter/livecam-central/
2.
2. Another
important thing to get is the "Tokyo Wide Pass," which saves a lot of
money if you are an expat in Japan. The economical Tokyo Wide Pass allows you
four days of travel on JR Trains in the Tokyo Wide Area, which includes Nikko
and the bullet train to and from Gala Yuzawa. We used the Shinkansen four
times, and it was worth the money spent J
From Tokyo Station, it is just a 70-minute Shinkansen (bullet train) ride to the resort. However, I would recommend making reservations, especially if you will be visiting on weekends or during holidays. The trains tend to be full, and only a limited number of non-reserved cars are available. On our trip, we had to stand half-way as the train was full. We arrived at Gala Yuzawa Station, which is directly connected to Cowabunga Ski Center, where you can find a ticket office, large coin lockers, ski and snowboard rental services, changing rooms, and more. And most importantly, we could also access the gondola to get up to the slopes in the same building.
We started with the busiest area, the Central Area, which has a mix of beginner and intermediate runs for skiing. The Snow Enjoyment Park next to it was a family-friendly place where we sledded in the play area. From the Bell of Love observation deck, we enjoyed panoramic views of the mountains. The main place to eat at Gala Yuzawa is the large food court, PALPAL. This food court serves a wide variety of dishes, from Japanese curry to ramen noodles, and for the sweet tooth, there is also ice cream at Blue Seal and crepes at Marion Crepe, which were really delicious.
We stayed at
Karuizawa, which has cool, fresh mountain air and stunning views. The town has
a very laid-back vibe and its own unique culture. The next day, we went around
the area to visit Karuizawa Shaw Memorial Church, which is known as the oldest
church in the area with a history of over 100 years, and Shiraito Waterfall,
which has thousands of crystal-clear water threads that create stunning scenery
along with the lush greenery surroundings.
If you have not
been there yet, we strongly recommend doing so before the snow melts and the
beautiful Sakura (Cherry Blossom) season starts at the end of March.
Practical
information:
•Location: GALA
Yuzawa Snow Resort is located in Minamiuonuma Ward, Niigata.
• When to go:
The ski resorts are open from December to March, as long as there is enough
snow.
• Price:
Admission can vary between approximately $40 and $20.
• Hours:
Typical skiing hours are during the day.
